Stewart’s Shops recently hosted 50 students and faculty from SUNY Cobleskill’s dairy and animal science programs on a tour of the company’s dairy plant and distribution center in Greenfield, N.Y.
Stewart’s plant employs 600 people, who produce the retailer’s milk, ice cream and a variety of food that keep its 400 shops stocked with fresh and local products. The tour is part of a new partnership to expand Stewart’s pipeline of talent while creating career opportunities for SUNY Cobleskill students and graduates.
“We see this as the start of a longterm relationship,” said Stewart’s plant personnel manager Clayton Savage. “This is a win-win because these students are studying at SUNY Cobleskill, which has a strong program, and they can come here to get hands-on experience.”
By working closely with SUNY Cobleskill, Savage sees an opportunity to develop internships and seasonal employment for students to help them gain experience and get their foot in the door to what could lead to a great career with Stewart’s in a field the students are passionate about.
“Having good corporate partners like Stewart’s that align with our programs is critical to our success,” said Nick DeCaprio, SUNY Cobleskill’s senior director of development and corporate partnerships. “Stewart’s has generously supported the college in so many ways over the years.”
Stewart’s Shops and the Dake family already have close ties with the college, supporting scholarships and donating money to support the construction of SUNY Cobleskill’s dairy processing center.
Ballston Spa, N.Y.-based Stewart’s Shops employs over 5,000 people and operates more than 350 locations across New York and southern Vermont.
The family-owned business is still run by the second and third generations of the Dake family.
